Sheet metal spring clip



Dec. 18, 1951 G. A. TINNERMAN SHEET METAL SPRING CLIP Filed Feb. 24, 1948 lll 650,@65 A. Zinn/PMAM Patented Dec. 1'8, 2195i George A. Tinnerman, ClevelandfOhio, "assigxi to fiinnerman Products, Inc., Cleveland, *.Ohio,

a corporation of-0hio vClaims.

Vel This invention relates toan improve'dmolding Vconstruction or zthe like embodying fas'tening'de'- vices in the -folm of Substantial retainers adapt-- ed for ready application lto an apertured lsup-- vporting structure to provide the Same Withmeans for mounting .themoldin'g thereon or lfor secur- :ing a cooperating part, object or other yarticle of manufacture to said supporting structure;

.The inventionis directed,'more .particularlmto -a molding construction orrthe like comprising im- .proved forms .o'f retainers provided Withattach -ing means Whichmaybe'ireadily interlo'cked in 'an opening in a sheet metal supporting structure, for example, by a simple operation taking place `entirely 'from one side thereof, 'and including Vf means for retaining arc'ooperating article lor part, such asa molding or. like object, Ain appliedmounted position on such .supporting structure.

The improved vmolding construction or th'eilifke fof 'the invention embodies clipLfasteners.or'retainers of the general type having attaching fmeans which comprise a hookfor tongue vWhichiis:applied yto clasping engagement over arnarginale'dgezpor'- .tion of an a'ssemblingfopening ina-.part together with a locking vshoulder also receivablein Ythe j,.

`assembling opening to look .the fastener in ap*- .plied fastening position. Frequently .theatta'ch- .ing opening inwhichth'e fastenerfis attached toa .part is so exposed vonLthe` outer sideof anr'installa- .tionthat thereisa tendencyiforWa-te'r,idust, etc., f

to pass throughithe.attachingopening into the'interior of therassembly. In automobile installa'- `tions, for example, ithis is :highly objectionable inasmuch asthe entranceofsuch Water, :dustand other foreign .matter into .the Linterior .of the've- 1r such a molding construction or the like in which the lfastener or retainer vcomprises 'an improved vtype of attaching means by which the attaching opening ina Ysupport is rendered impervious :to thepassage of Watenzdust and otherforeignmatter and 'in which .the attaching means `is :so des y v 2 :signed A'as `Vto be :easilyzandquickly :slid into fastening position :in :interlocked.fengagement with :the supporting parte-and -retained vin su'cnfastening iposition against. inadvertent disconnection lor yach- .cidental removal.

AAnother .object of .,theinventionri's to provide` an amproved molding construction .or :other @fasten- :ing constructionembodying5a retainer. such asudescribed Awhich is .adaptedior a k:learnproof and dust-proof lattachment `@in :,an assembling :oper-ring vin .a :parti and which -comprises :an.,attach-ing l:tongue nor fhook and Va cooperating .zimperforate protuberance ldefining sa :locking shoulder which locks the :fastener yEin-.such attached :position .-.i'n the assembling f opening against .loosening for -re'- lmoval from appliedrfastening -,position= andfother- IWise 1, closes .said rassembling opening Aagainst the passage s oiwater, dust 'and *other foreign :matten A further object of .the ,inventionris .to provide .a .molding construction for `the.dikefcompri'sing :attachable--retainers..'as aforesaid,y having. a relatively Wide range for application rand '.usesin fthat `they 4are `adapted -for attachment :Lto supporting parts of lvarious thicknesses.

.An 'additional'objectof .the linvention is 'isoprovideia;rnolding construction fand a retainer there- 'for having :all ythe .foregoing `features ,and fadvantages `of construction 'together Iwith an improvedspringiarmconstruotiongprovidinga strong fandrdurable.retaining means forfmounting mold- .in'gswhich @are relatively heavy :and :wide :andwof irregular .cross-section y Further'pbiects and advantages,.and other new land us'efulfeatures in :the construction, arrangement :and general :combination of parts of theiinvention will :be :apparent :as .the following-:description proceeds-with reference to :the .accompanying drawings, for purposes vof illustration but:not-. 'of

,-lmitation, .in which vlikefreference characters designate rlikeparts throughout, anddn which:

z-Fig. :1 is a vertical sectional View .showing :the .improved retainerzvofzthefinvention asgattachedito a supporting :part and :mounting a channelshapedzrmolding or `:tri'mxstrip .represented in :seeytion;

"Fig 2.3is .aLbottomgzhlan viewfoifFig.. 1 alongnline :2-'2, lookingin zthey direction of the arrows;

f Fig. .3;isza `topzirvlan vievv of .thenretainer lor. clip ffastener :shown employed yin Figs. f1 zand`2;

Fig.V 4 :shows `the retainer V"in side elevation as initially attached y.in :an .assembling `'opening'fin .an v'apertured part, represented in" sei'ztien;` and,

Fig. `5 fis anfend -viewfofwthefastenerrshownsin Fig. '-.Llffas Hinitially.aattazh'ed vin san assembling :opening-man aperturedffpart.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another form of retainer for mounting a cable, or rod, or the like; and, Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the retainer of Fig. 6 as attached in an assembling opening in a part in a completed installation.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings, it will be understood that the molding construction or the like of the present invention is one of the general character in which a molding M, trim strip, beading, or other object may be mounted onto a supporting part, P, by an operation taking place entirely from the forward or readily accessible side thereof. The invention, therefore, is particularly suited for use in installations involving a blind location in which the rearward side of the supporting vpart P is not conveniently or readily accessible for attaching the retainer used in the mounting of a molding or other object onto the supporting part.

The retainers or fasteners in the invention are provided in the manner of substantial clip devices comprising combined attaching means and spring arm holding means, the attaching means being adapted to be easily and quickly applied to substantially locked fastening position in an assembling opening in the supporting structure 'from the forward side thereof, whereupon the molding or other object may-then be applied to the holding arms of the retainer in fully mounted position on the supporting structure by an operation likewise taking place from the forward side thereof. Thus, there is no need for access to the rearward side of the supporting part as is necessary When the retainers are attached by bolt and nut fastenings required to be secured together from both sides of the supporting structure. At the same time, the improved retainers of the invention are so designed as to close and cover the assembling opening completely to prevent the `passage of water, dust and other foreign matter into the interior of the completed assembly.

The form of retainer device shown in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, designated generally Ill, is constructed most economicallyl from a relatively small, inexpensive blank of sheet metal material which is best provided in the manner of a simple section severed from standard sheet metal strip stock with minimum loss or waste of material.

'Any suitable sheet metal may be employed but preferably of a spring metal nature suchV as spring steel or cold rolled steel having spring characteristics. On either side ofv the approximate midportion or base II of the blank, spring holding means are provided in a manner to permit the lmolding or other finishing object to be sprung thereon in mounted position on the supporting structure P, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the present example, the retainer I is shown as provided for mounting an iregular shaped molding M in the Yform of a channelshaped trim strip or the like in which the crown of the molding M comprises a lower beading I merging into a larger beading 2. The respective spring arm holding means of the retainer are provided in a size 'and design indicated by the size and formation of the particular beading to be secured thereby. The smaller beading I of the molding M terminates in an inturned flange 3 andaccordingly, the spring holding means for this side of the molding comprises la relatively short resilient spring arm I3 bentupwardly from the fastener base'to provide an `inwardly inclined cam shoulder I4 adjoining saidfaste'ner` base II. The outer end of said spring arm I3 is return bent to define an outwardly inclined cam surface I 5 adapted to provide a gradual outward camming action on the edge of the inturned flange 3 in the application of the molding to mounted posi tion, as presently to be described.

The other side of the retainer I9 is provided with relatively larger spring holding means commensurate with the size and design of the larger beading 2 and otherwise suitably designed for engaging the inturned ange 4 on said larger beading 2. Such spring holding means are shown dened by a pair of spaced similar spring arm portions extending from the fastener base II and purposely provided as spaced separate spring elements to increase the resiliency and yieldability thereof. Each spring arm portion 28 includes an outwardly return bent spring finger 22 having an integral lateral wing 24 along its outer side bent rearwardly toward the fastener body. As shown in Figs. l and 5, the lower edge of each lateral wing preferably is recessed to denne a right angled abutment 25 and adjacent foot 26 approximating the size of the inturned flange edge 4 to seat the same snugly and retain said inturned flange firmly and rigidly against the supporting panel or plate P. Each spring nger 22 and the lateral Wing 24 carried thereby is yieldable relative to its associated spring arm 20 and the fastener base II in order to flex as necessary in the mounting of the molding M thereon. The provision of the abutments 25 on the wings 24 is advantageous in that the edge of the sheet metal material forming the fastener is utilized to provide a relatively wide and strong clamping and holding foot 26 bearing on and anchoring the inturned ange il. The arrangement is such that the inner edge of the abutment 2'5 firmly and rigidly engages the edge of the inturned molding flange 2 while the adjacent lateral edge portion forming said foot 26 exerts a pronounced clamping action on said flange against the supporting part P. At the same time, inasmuch as each spring nger 22 is yieldable relative to its associated spring arm 2i) and the fastener base II, said abutment 25 on the wing 24 carried by each spring linger 22 is also yieldable as necessary in mounting the molding M as from the position of such-abutment 25 when the mounted relation of the molding.

The supporting part P may be of any suitable material such as sheet metal, wood, ber board, or the like, but inasmuch as the invention is employed mainly in metallic structures, the s-upporting part usually is in the form of a metallic panel or plate-like element. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, in order to adapt the supporting part P for use with a retainer device in accordance with the invention, there is provided an assembling opening of any suitable outline but preferably in the manner of simple circular opening I in which the attaching elements of the retainer I0 are received to secure the retainer and otherwise cover and close said assembling opening to prevent the entrance of water, dust, and other foreign matter through said assembling. When the assembling opening is-provided in other than circular form as in the manner of a rectangular slot, the attaching elements of the retainer are designed` in accordance with the outline of the opening to cover and conceal the same in a similar imanner. -able number of such assembling openings 1 are It will be understood that a suitandere Aprepared in the apartP .for the required'zretainers 'to .be used, the same .being .provided inpredetermined spaced relation on said part alongtheipath which. the molding brother object vtofbe mounted "'by the retainers extends in mounted position.

formed from the fastener body Aor -base il which Yis Votherwise preferably arched -or 'bowed :slightly in the area in which said hook or 4tongue depends therefrom. The hook or tongue 1'30 defi-nes a vshoulder 3i adjoining the fastener body or base 1| 'and a clasping portion spaced 'therefrom 4in normal untensioned relation -a distance slightly less than the thickness of the supporting part 1P. Preferably the extremity or vtree end lof said hook terminates in an outwardly 'flared lipelement 3-2 to facilitate the initial application -of the hook Vover the edge of part P adjacent the opening lfl while the sho-ulder 3l defined by said hook is *curved or rounded as shown `in Fig. 2 inaecord'- ance with the con-tour of'said opening l in ord-er to iit the edge -of -sai-dl opening snuglyand evenly, 'thereby closing said opening completely in the area of said hook or tong-uei).

At a suitable space from sa-id tongue -o-r hook 30, an imperforate depressi-on -for protuberance is formed in the fastener base "H to project out of the plane thereof from the same side thereof as said tongue 3S. "Ihe'imperforate depression 3-5 is so provided as to 'define a pronounced rounded shoulder 36 which is diametrically spaced from the rounded shoulder 3 l on'the vhook; 3B, in accordance with lthe sizeof the assembling opening l, --a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than the diameter of said assembling opening. Accordingly, said rounded Vshoulders 3l and 36 defined by the hookand'depression, respectively, are designed to v`engage .epposing wall portions of said assembling opening v1 to lock the retainer firmly and rigidly in attached position and otherwise completely close and cover sai-d opening against thefentr'anc'efof water, .dust `and other foreign matter. Preferably the round-ed shoulder 35 lon the imperforate depression 35 isprovided inslightly inclined relatio-nin the manner of av cam sh'oulderadapted-lt'o *cam against the engaged marginal fedge of the assembling opening fl .to seat vtherein automatically in the most effective fastening position. In the event that the assembling opening l isof vrectangular or other noncircular conlgi'iration,'the spaced shoulders 31,36, on thehook -andfdepression, respectively, are suitablydesigned in-accordance with the contour of such an 4ass'eniblirrg opening to engage therein snugly `main-ier lto cover and close said assembling opening. l

Accordingly, with the retainer t0 thus prpvided and the supporting part P prepared withk an as- .sembling opening 1, Figs. l, 2 and 4, the retainer may be-easily and quickly attached to positive locked engagement with .said supportingv part simply by inserting the free end of the hooker tongue 30 into and through saidassembling opening and sliding the fastener Yin the 'direction of .said hook 313. The flared -lip 32 formed cnthe Aextremity ofsaid :hook 30 facilitates this .initial .step .in applying `the -hook over .the .edge-of :the

assembiingiopening .1. By .depressing .the bowed arched Vbase :or body 1I of the .retainerand simultaneously sliding .the retainer forward, ythe hook 13!) `clears lthe underside of the :supporting l-parlt and permits ithe .retainer to :be .advanced to its :fully applied .fastening position to the kpoint at which .the rounded shoulder 3| von isaid.V hook '30 snugly engages .the adj-acen-tfwall 'said .asfsembling opening .1, substantially as shown .in '2 and 4. .In ythis position, the A.rounded .locking .shoulder 36 defined .by the imperforate depression35 iis 'also received. in the `assembling opening L1 .in engagement with .an opposite wall the'r'feof .inasmuch vas .it is provided with a .pre determined spacing from the shoulder 3| 'of the tcm-gue v*or hook for this 'purpose .and otherwise -cooperates therewith .in the assembling opening 5to lock the fastener in .fully applied position on the supporting part P.

Thus, the opposing spaced shoulders 3i, 36, co- 'operatein engaging opposite walls of the .assembling opening 'I under spring tension to lock the :fastener .in vattached position and otherwiseprevent .endwise displacement'or rotative 'shifting lmovementvof the retainer from nal appliedposition. Likewise, in the event that the assembling opening lis provided in the form of a rec- 'tan'gular slot, `the `imperforate :de-pression '35 wouldbe so :provided as to define a flat end .shoulder. for engaging an end wall yof such rectangular slot `and flat side shoulders Yin abutting engage ment with the adjacent straight sidewalls of the slot asa further means maintaining theretainer iiniiXed, nonrotative applied .position on the .supporting part. In any case, the spaced shoulders 3|., 3E, dened by the tongue and depression, respectively, are formed to correspond with "the Vcontour of the assembling opening employed to engage opposing walls thereof and thereby lock .the retainer in `attached position, as aforesaid, :and further, with such shouldersdesigned for Snug, .close engagement wih lt-he 'engaged marginal portions of the assembling opening .to 'cover 'and close the same against the passage of water, dust, and any other foreign matter. A retainer 'of this character is advantageously formed with a yslightly bowed or arched base or body .Il .in that 'the .retainer body .is thus'provided with added resiliency permitting attachment thereof to supporting parts of diierent thicknesses inasmuch as such a bowed Vor arched fastener body may be depressed as necessary to permit the tongue or hook 30 to engage positively fat rthe reverse side of any suitable supporting part `in `self-sustained fastening position thereon fsubystantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

In the foregoing manner, a suitable number of "retainers I0 are attached in similar assembling openings 1 provided in the supporting part 1P along the path which the molding M or other object extends in mounted position. The molding M may be provided of any suitable cross-section, but is usually in the form of a substantial channel shape including longitudinal inturned anges 3, 4, vas aforesaid, adapted to be sprung onto the attached retainers by substantial snap fastening `engagement with the spring holding means thereof.

.The retainers of the present invention are .partcularly suited for mounting wide, relatively heavy moldings which require a strong, durable and positively locked mounting. The moldingM, Fig. l, is of this character, and in mounting the same, the larger heavier beading portion 2=there '0f *is secured and supported 'by "the larger,

'stronger spring holding arms 20-22 which include the lateral wings 24. The inturned flange 4 of the larger beading portion 2 is first applied to the untensioned spring arms 20-20 of the initially attached retainer, Fig. 5, with the edge of said flange 4 received in the space between the feet 2B on the lower ends of the wings 24 and the adjacent surface of part P, and with said edge of the ange 4 engaging the abutments 25. The other inturned iiange 3 is then applied over the spring arm I3 in a snap fastening action which seats the molding M in fully secured relation with the retainer and in final appliedmounted position on part P as shown in Fig. 1. The arrangement is such that as force is applied on the crown of the molding M, the edge of the inturned ange 3 cams on the inclined guide surface I5 to cause the spring arm I3 to flex slightly inwardly. At the same time, tlie flange 4 in engagement with vthe abutments 25 on wings 24, is drawn inwardly to cause the spring lingers 22 to be compressed inwardly toward the associated spring arms 20 from the untensioned position shown in Fig. 5 to the compressed tensioned relation illustrated in Fig. 1. This inward drawing of the molding ange 4 together with the slight inward flexing of the spring arm I3 permits the inturned flange 3 to snap over said spring arm I3 onto the inwardly inclined cam shoulder I4 whereupon the edge of said flange 3 moves automatically inwardly into its most eiective seating on said cam shoulder I4 to a position substantially in engagement with the adjacent longitudinal edge of the fastener base II and substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the supporting part P.

In the inwardly compressed and tensioned position of the spring fingers 22, the bearing feet 26 defined by the lower ends of the wings 24 carried thereby clamp against relatively wide edge portions of the inturned liange 4 to provide a. relatively strong and durable mounting of the molding in this regard. At the same time, the compressed tensioned relation of the spring fingers 22 toward their associated spring arms 20 is such as to exert an upward spring force on the fastener base II which in turn is transmitted to the attaching tongue 30 to add to the locking action thereof in attached fastening position in the assembling opening 1.

It is to be appreciated that from the standpoint of a fastener of general utility, the attach.- ing means in the improved retainer of the inven.- tion is admirably suited for a wide range and variety of applications and uses in addition to molding installations for providing a locked attachment of the retainer in an assembling opening in a part and otherwise completely cover and close the assembling opening against the passage of water, dust and other foreign matter. Figs. 6 and 7, accordingly, illustrate a further embodiment of the invention in which the improved retainer is employed for mounting an object such as a cable C, tube, rod, or the like, onto an aper'- tured support P provided with a similar assembling opening 'l. The retainer 4S comprises a suitable body or base 4I having struck and formed therefrom a hook or tongue 30 and an imperforate depression 35 defining the locking shoulder 36 having the same general'construction and purpose for attaching the retainer in the assembling opening 8 as described with reference to Figs. 1-5 inclusive. With the attach.- ing means thus provided, either 'or bothl ends or sides of the retainerV baseV 4I isl formed .into pne or more spring arms 45 forretaining one or more objects'such as a conduitC, Fig'. 7, by a substantial snap fastening, clasping engagement therewith.

The improved retainer in any form preferably is constructed of relatively thin sheet metal, the thickness of which is selected according to service requirements and the predetermined size of the parts secured. The fasteners are most effective when provided of spring metal suitably spring tempered and otherwise treated to give the desired toughness and hardness, particularly in the case of devices which are put to heavy duty in installations where extreme vibratory motion takes place. A cheap but effective fastener may be provided from cold rolled metal, such as cold rolled steel, which is untempered but of a spring metal nature and capable of providing an effective and reliable fastening means.

While the invention has been described in detail with specific examples, such examples are intended as illustrations only, inasmuch as it will be apparent that other modifications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, with all changes falling within the scope, meaning, and range of equivalency of the claims intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is: Y

l. A retainer adapted to be secured in a circular assembling opening in a part to secure an object to said part comprising, a sheet metal body defining means for retaining said object and a base having an imperforate portion covering and closing said assembling opening in said part, a preformed hook element extending from said retainer base adjacent said imperforate portion and projecting in spaced relation to the underside of the fastener base, a rounded shoulder defined by said hook corresponding substantially to the contour of said circular assembling opening, said hook being adapted to extend through said assembling opening and engage a side of said part in cooperation with the retainer base engaging the opposite side of said part and with said rounded shoulder on the hook snugly engaging a wall of said circular assembling opening in attached position, and an imperforate de? pression formed in said imperforate portion of the retainer base defining a rounded locking shoulder projecting from the underside of the fastener base in spaced opposing relation to said rounded shoulder on the hook and also correspending substantially to the contour of said circular assembling opening, said rounded locking shoulder being adapted to engage the wall of said circular assembling opening opposite to that engaged by said rounded shoulder on the hook to prevent withdrawal of said hook from attached position in said assembling opening.

2. A retainer for mounting a molding having inturned anges onto a supporting part, said retainer comprising a sheet metal body dening a base, means on said base for attaching the retainer to said supporting part, a pair of upwardly extending spring arms bent upwardly from said retainer base, one of said upwardly extending spring arms having an outward extension in the vform of a downwardly extending return bent portion, and awing on the side of said downwardly extending return bent portion dening an abutment for engaging a ange of said moulding.

3. A retainer for mounting a molding having inturned anges onto a supporting part, said retainer comprising a sheet metal body defining a base, means on said base for attaching the retainer to said supporting part, a pair of upwardly extending spring arms bent upwardly from said retainer base, one of said upwardly extending spring arms having an outward extension in the form of a downwardly extending return bent portion, a wing on the side of said downwardly extending return bent portion defining an abutment and a portion adjacent said abutment for engaging the inner surface of a flange of said molding with said abutment engaging the edge f said ange.

4. A retainer for mounting a molding having inturned anges onto a supporting part, said retainer comprising a sheet metal body defining a base, means on said base for attaching the retainer to said supporting part, spring holding means bent upwardly from said retainer base, one of said spring holding means comprising spaced upwardly extending spring arm portions having outward extensions in the form of downwardly extending return bent portions, and wings on the sides of said downwardly extending return bent portions defining abutments for engaging a flange of said molding.

5. A retainer for mounting a molding having inturned flanges onto a supporting part, said re tainer comprising a sheet metal body dening a base, means on said base for attaching the retainer to said supporting part, spring holding means bent upwardly from said retainer base, one of said spring holding means comprising spaced upwardly extending spring arm portions having outward extensions in the form of downwardly extending return bent portions, wings on lthe sides of said downwardly extending return bent portions defining abutments and portions adjacent said abutments for engaging the inner surface of a flange of said molding with said abutments engaging the edge of said flange.

GEORGE A. TINNERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,154,046 Kost Apr. 11, 1939 2,208,722 Doty July 23, 1940 2,208,727 Marshall July 23, 1940 2,217,574 Tinnerman Oct. I8, 1940 2,222,449 Tinnerman Nov. 19, 1940 2,227,290 Wiley Dec. 31, 1940 2,245,375 Wiley June 10, 1941 2,318,840 Del Camp May 11, 1943 2,476,207 Brown July 12, 1-949 

